Third detention in anti-gay Uganda crackdown

Police in Uganda have detained a third youth worker on homosexuality charges,  continuing their crackdown on the Youth on Rock Foundation (YRF), which runs anti-AIDS programs for LGBT youth. Martin (Morgan) Kanyike, executive director of the foundation, was detained Tuesday, Jan. 29, on accusations of homosexuality and recruiting people into homosexuality.  He was put into … Continue reading →

Singapore LGBT letter: Even hurting, let’s win with love

Legal challenges to Singapore’s law against gay sex have raised hopes for change, but also have led to a conservative backlash. In response, a coalition of LGBTQ groups today issued a statement of encouragement and consolation to “Singapore’s LGBT Community and Friends.” It states: While many of us are understandably hurt, even angered, by some … Continue reading →

Anti-gay mob beat 7 men; probe faults Nigerian response

The article “Anti-gay mob beat 7 men; probe faults Nigerian response” about the Jan. 12 attack in Nigeria has been removed from this blog, at least temporarily. The article was based on an unfinished, draft version of a report prepared by investigators from the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) and the Improved … Continue reading →

$1,000 bribe overcomes anti-gay charges in Cameroon

Two young men charged with homosexuality-related crimes have been released from police custody in Cameroon after paying a bribe, according to human rights activists who worked on their behalf. This new, detailed account of the case of the men identified as Depadou N, 21, and Paul Arno, 24, differs greatly in timing and outcome from the … Continue reading →

LGBTI activists in hiding in Uganda after release by police

Four young LGBTI activists in Uganda are in hiding after at least two of them were arrested and detained for several days on homosexuality-related charges. An online international appeal for support for their LGBTI rights group, Youth on Rock Foundation, seeks to help the organization get back in business with both an office and safe … Continue reading →

Jonas and Franky, freed but now in hiding

The good news: Two young men in Cameroon won a court appeal this month and were freed from prison, where they had been serving a five-year sentence for alleged violations of Cameroon’s anti-homosexuality law. The bad news: They had to go into hiding, because immediately after they were released from prison, they were pursued by … Continue reading →

Appeal to Russia: Drop anti-gay bill that spurs anti-gay violence

Human Rights Watch issued this press release today, arguing that the anti-gay violence confronting recent protests against a Russian proposal for a national ban on “gay propaganda” shows that such a law would encourage further violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people: MOSCOW –Vicious attacks on gay rights protesters in Russia in recent days underscores … Continue reading →

For anti-gay Jamaicans, chickens coming home to roost

Jamaica’s legendary homophobia has resulted in some kids being kicked out of their homes as early as 11 years old. Many of these kids end up on the streets and engage in disruptive behaviour. Yesterday, Jamaica’s major newspaper again reported on this issue which subsequently consumed the talk show programmes all day. The article carried … Continue reading →

Another 3 men in Cameroon jail for homosexuality

Previously unreported on this blog, these cases are cited by the newly released Amnesty International report on Cameroon.  The report states: “Two young men identified as Depadou N, aged 21 years, and Paul Arno, aged 24 years, were arrested on 22 November 2011 and detained by the police in Yaoundé. Their arrest followed a denunciation … Continue reading →

Vote of 338-1 for Russian ‘gay propaganda’ bill

The lower house of the Russian parliament, or Duma, voted overwhelmingly today in favor of a ban on so-called “propaganda of homosexualism” where children might be present. The vote on the bill’s first reading was 338 for (or 336, by another account*), 1 against, with 1 abstention and the remaining 50 or so Duma members … Continue reading →